Remotely-controlled reversing mechanism



June 18, 1929.

W. K. LIGG ETT REMOTELY CONTROLLED REVERSING MECHANISM 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8. 1924 June 18, 1929. w. K. LIGGETT REMOTELY CONTROLLED REVERSING men/ms! Filed Aug. 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 18, 1929.

- UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM K. LIG-GETT, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

REMOTELY-CONTROLLED REVERSIN G MECHANISM.

Application filed August 8,1924. Serial No. 730,949.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in remotely controlled reversing I mechanism associated with the propelling devices of a self propelled belt tripper, or similar apparatus.

In my copending application, Serial No. 579,520, filed August 3, 1922, there is disclosed a self-propelling belt tripper adapted to cooperate with a continuously moving conveyor belt to discharge material therefrom, and having automatically reversing propelling mechanism whereby said tripper is given reciprocating movement longitudinally of the belt to distribute material delivered thereby. The devices by which the reversal of direction ofthe propelling mechanism is cont-rolled are of necessity located immediately adjacent the conveyor belt. As heretofore constructed adjustment of the controlling devices to change the points at which the motion is reversed has'necessitated personal attendance of the operator at the reversing points, frequently entailing serious inconvenience because of thelocation of the conveyor above the top of a storage bin, or in some equally inaccessible position.

It is the especial object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the class de scribed having means, controllable from a conveniently positioned station, whereby the direction of movement of the tripper maybe reversed at selected points along its path of travel.

The means whereby I attain this object are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the acco'mpanying drawings of which Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a self propelling automatically reversing belt tripper equipped with the devices of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one of the controlling devices illustrated in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 is a sectional View line III-III of. Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the electaken along the trio circuits of my improved controlling device. I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the actuating mechanism of the machine illustratedin Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the devices illustrated in Figure 5. 2

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of Figure 6. p V

' tion. Formed in the side belt 1 will be thrown therefrom by its inertia into the spout 4t and discharged laterally of the conveyor. The idler pulleys 2 and 3 are mounted in suitable bearings car-.

ried by the supporting frame 5, and this supporting frame is mounted upon the traction wheels 6 and 7 adapted to rest upon and travel along the track rails 8. A sprocket wheel. 9 fixed to the spindle of the idler pulley 3 is connected by an endless power transmitting chain 10 with two sprocket wheelsll and 12 in such manner that said sprocket wheels revolve in opposite directions when the idler pulley 3 is driven by movement of. the conveyor belt. The sprocket wheels 11 and 12 are connected through suitable trains of gearing, to be presently described, with an axle 7 of the traction wheel 6 to cause its rotation in either direction. This clutch mechanism is controlled by movement of the shifting lever 13 which .is adapted to engage either of a plurality of stops 14, 14 and 14" by which said lever is moved to reverse the direction of rotation of the wheel 6.

This power transmission mechanism forms the subject matter of my copending application, Ser. No. 579,520, filedvAugust 3, 1922 and is not to be interpreted as the only form of reversing mechanism with whichmy present invent-ion will operate, but is merely il lustrated in the presentapplication "to form a complete disclosure whereby the present invention may be clearly understood without referring to said copending application.

The power transmission mechanism is selfcontained and comprises the side frames 30 which are secured in spaced'parallelism by a cross bolt 31 and'the floor plate 32.

members of the tripper carriageserving to brace it laterally as well as to hold the transmission mechanism in operative posiframes 30 are the clutches 42 and 43 to journal bearings wherein are journaled the transversely extending shafts 33, 34, and 36. Fixed to the shafts 33 and 35 are sprocket wheels 12 and 11 the first of which engages the outside of the chain 10 and the other engages the inside of said chain, thereby causing the shafts 33 and 34 to revolve in opposite directions when the conveyor belt 1 travels around the tripper pulley 2. Freely mounted upon the shafts and 34 are spur pinions and 41 both of which engage the spur gear 37. The pinions 40 and 41 are conncctible with their respective shafts by the friction clutches 42 and 43 of the well known multiple disk type. The bearing sleeves 44 and 45, in which these shafts are supported, are screw threaded in apertures of the side frame 30 and are adapted to be moved longitudinally by rotation around their respective shafts. By this endwise movement of the sleeves 44 and 45 pressure may be exerted upon the members of actuate either of the pinions 40 or 41 to drive the spur gear 37 in either direction. The gear 37 is attached to a shaft 34 upon the projecting end of which is a sprocket wheel 46 connected by a suitable driving chain 47 with a sprocket wheel 48 attached to the axle 7 to propel the tripper carriage along the track rails S.

The bearing sleeves 44 and 45 are arranged to be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions by mechanism comprising the rocker arms 49 and 50 fixed to the re spective sleeves, and connected by rods 51 and 52 with the oppositely projecting arms 53 and 54 fixed to the rock shaft 21. A shifting lever 13 projecting downwardly from the shaft 21 is adapted to contact with stop members 14 or 14 secured to the track rails S, and when the shifting lever 13 is' brought, by movement of the tripper carriage, into contact with the stop members 14 or 14 it is rotated rearwardly, thereby causing a rotation of the rock shaft 21 in the direction to cause disengagement of the driving friction clutch and engagement of the idle clutch, thereby reversing the direction of rotation of the driving sprocket 46 to propel the tripper carriage in the opposite direction. 7

'If the shifting lever 13 were rigidly attached to the rock shaft 21 movement of the tripper carriage would cease when the rock shaft 21 reached its central neutral position at which both clutches are disengaged. I have therefore provided the hereinafter described devices to cause rotation of the rock shaft 21 beyond said neutral position to clutch engaging position. The "shift lever 13 is attached to a hub 56 which is freely rotatable upon the shaft 36, and from thishub there projects a finger 57 positioned between and adapted to engage either of the lugs 58 formed upon the flange 59 of a hub 60 which is keyed to the shaft 36 adjacent the hub 56. The proportions of these parts are such that the shift lever 13 moves through a considerable angular distance on either side of a central vertical plane before engagement of the finger 57 with the lug 58 establishes its connection with the rock shaft 36. An upward extension 61 of the shift lever 13 carries a weight 62 of such proportions that when carried, by the rotation of the lever 13, beyond the central vertical plane, the action of gravity upon said weight will continue the rotation of the hub 60 to produce a sufficient rotation of the rock shaft 36 and insure engagement of the friction clutches and the reversal of the movement of the tripper carriage.

A link 63 pivoted to the side frame 30 has a notch 64 adapted to engage a lug 65 formed on the flange 59 to hold therocle shaft in its central neutral position. hen the rock shaft is so locked the propelling mechanism is held inactive, thereby preventing movement of the tripper carriage along the belt in either direction.

The reversing steps 14, 14 and 14" are alike, and a description of one will apply to all. Securely clamped to the track rail 8 is a supporting and enclosing frame 15 in which is formed a guideway 16 extending transversely of the track rail 8. Slidable in the guideway 16 is a cylindrical armature 17 adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated by the alternate actuation of the solenoid coils 13and 19.. To the armature 17 is fixed a non-magnetic bolt 20 of such proportions that when the armature 17 is at one extremity of its reciprocation, the bolt 20 projects into the path of the reversing lever 13, and when said armature is at the other extremity of its reciprocation, said bolt 20 is withdrawn into the casings 15. Circumferential grooves 21 and 22, formed in the bolts 20, engage a spring pressed detent 23 when said bolt is at either extremity of its path of travel to prevent its accidental dislocation.

The solenoid coils 18 and 19 are adapted to be connected by suitable conductors 24, 25 and 26 with a source of electric supply, diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 4 at 27, and suitable contact devices,diagrammatically indicated at 28 and 29, are provided at a convenient location for closing said circuits. By manipulation of the contact 28 current may be caused to flow through the conductors 24 and 25 to actuate the solenoid 18 and thereby withdraw the bolts 20 into the casing 15, as indicated by the solid lines in Fig. 3. By manipulation of the contact 29 current may be caused to flow through the conductors 25 and 26 to actuate the'solenoid 19 and to thereby move the bolts 20 Ontwardlyinto the path of the reversing lever 13, as indicated byv the dotted lines in Fig.3.

By the devices above described the discharging mechanism associated with an inaccessibly positioned belt conveyor may be conveniently controlled to meet changing requirements of distribution of the material delivered by said conveyor.

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable along a traclrway, means upon the carriage to propel it in either direction, means upon the carriage automatically movable in either direction to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage and remote controlling means to actuate said reversing means as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable along a trackway, means upon the ca"riage to propel it in either direction, means upon the carriage automatically movable in either direction to reverse the direction of travel of the carr .ge, means adjacent the trackway adapted to actuate said direction revers ing means and remote controllable means to optionally render said cooperating means ope alive or inoperative.

3. In an apparatus of theclass described, the combination with a carriage movable along a trackway, means upon the carriage to. propel it in either direction, means upon the carriage automatically movable in either direction to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage, and electrically controlled means to actuate said reversing means in either direction as and for the purpose set forth. I

4-. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination. with a carriage movable along a trackway, means ,upon'the carriage to propel it in either direction, meansupon the carriage adapted to cooperate withstationary means adjacent the trackway to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage, and remote controlling means to move said cooperating means into or out of'cooperating position.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable along a trackway, means upon the carriage to propel it in either direction, means to reverse the direction of travel of said. car riage including a lever projecting from said carriage, an abutment adjacent the path of travel of the carriage, and means controllable from a remote station to move said abutment into or out of position to engage said lever as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable along a trackway, means upon the carriage to propel 'it in either direction, means to reverse the direction of travel .of said carriage including a lever projecting from said carriage. an abutment adjacent the path of travel of said carriage, and electrically actuated means to move said abutment intoor out of position to engage said-lever as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable along a tracki-vay, means upon the carriage to propel'it in either direction, means to reverse the direction of travel of said carriage including a lever projecting therefrom, a stationary frame adjacent the trackway, a bar longitudinally slidable in guideways of said frame, and adapted to engage said lever, and means to slide said bar into or out of lever engaging position as and for-the purpose set forth.

8. In an apparatus ofthe class described,

the combination with a carriage movable along a trackway, means upon the carriage to propel it in either direction, means to reverse the direction of travel of said carriage including a lever projecting therefrom, a stationary frame adjacent the trackway, a bar longitudinally slidable in guideways of said frame and adapted to engage said'lever, and means operable from a remote station to slide said bar into or out of the lever engaging position as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable along a. trackway', means upon the carriage to propel it in either direction, means to reverse the direction of travel of said carriage including a lever projecting therefrom, a

along a trackway, means upon the carriage to propel it in either direction, means to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage including a lever projecting therefrom, a stationary frame adjacent the trackway, a bar longitudinally slidable in guideways of said frame and adapted to engage said lever, a solenoid adapted to move said bar into the lever engaging position, a second solenoid adapted to move said bar out of the lever engaging position, and means to control the actuation of said solenoid as and for the purpose set forth.

' 11. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame having a hori- Zontal guideway, a bar longitudinally reciprocable in the guideway, means to reciprocate the bar, and means releasable under positive bar movement tending to retain the bar at either extremity of its pat-h of reciprocation as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In an apparatus of the class described,-

zontal guideway, a bar reciprocable in the guideway, means to reciprocate the bar, two longitudinally spaced depressions formed in the bar, and a spring pressed detent adapted to engage one of said depressions when said bar is at either end of its path of reciprocation and being releasable under positive bar movement.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame having a horizontal guideway, a bar reciprocable in the guideway, a pair of solenoids adapted to reciprocate the bar, means to control the actuation of said solenoids, two longitudinally spaced depressions formed in said bar, and

. a spring pressed detent adapted to engage one of said depressions when said bar is at either extremity of its path of reciprocation and being releasable under positive bar movement.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movable object, means upon the object for propelling it in either direction, means upon the object automatically movable in either direction to reverse the direction of travel of the same, and

remote cont-rolling means to actuate said reversing means as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a'earriage movable along a trackway, means upon the carriage to propel it, abutment means adjacent the trackway for controlling movement of said carriage and movable to operative or inoperative positions, and remote controlling means for moving said abutment means into operative or inoperative positions.

' 16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a carriage movable along the traokway, means upon the carriage to propel it in either direction, abutment means adjacent the path of travel of said carriage, means upon the carriage tion, means tending to retain said abutment means at either extremity of its path movement, and remote controlling means to move said abutment means into and out of cooperating position.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, .1

the combination With a carriage movable along the trackway, means upon the carriage to propel it in either digection, said abutment means including a reciprocal bar,

means to reciprocate said bar into and out of co-operative position, said bar being provided with two longitudinally spaced depressions, a spring pressed detent adapted to engage one of said depressions when said bar is at either end of its path of reciprocation, means upon the carriage adapted to co-operate with said bar to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage, and remote controlling means to move said abutment means into and out of (no-operative position.

18. A trip deviceof the character described comprising an enclosing frame adapted for attachment to a rail, electromagnetic means disposed within said enclosing frame, a core reciprocal within said electro-magnetic" means and engaged throughout the major portion of its length with said e'lcctro-magnetic means and the enclosing frame, and being received within 7 said enclosing frame in an inoperative position, and said core being adapted to have one end thereof projected from the enclosing frame, and an object movable upon said rail and adapted to abut said projecting end of said core for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' WILLIAM K. LIGGETT. 

